Geneva, October 20, 2003 -- At the
end of August this year India's Orissa and Chattisgarh States reported
some of the heaviest rainfall experienced in decades. The raging floodwater
that swept away roads, bridges and life-supporting crops forced thousands
of people to flee their homes.

NEW DELHI, Oct 9 (AFP) - Indian
health authorities predicted Thursday a deadly wave of dengue fever saying
80 people had died of the mosquito-borne disease in the past three months
and some 4,720 people were infected.

A National Anti Malaria Programme (NAMP)
coordinator warned that infections could rise because heavy monsoon rains
have left stagnant pools of water which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes
in overcrowded Indian housing estates.

"At least 4,720 cases of infection
have been reported from 15 states while 78 people have died of …

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (AFP) - Deaths
from raging floods swamping two Indian states touched 824 as officials
Tuesday reported nine more casualties in the eastern state of Bihar where
millions have been marooned.

Six people drowned in the Bihar district
of Vaishali while three others died of snake bites in their flooded villages
of Begusarai district, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency said
of the incidents since Sunday.

World Vision moved to its second phase
relief distribution in the flood ravaged district of Dhemaji, Assam. On
the first day of distribution, 930 families of 22 villages received relief
materials, including rice and lentils.

PATNA, India, Sept 11 (AFP) - At
least six people drowned in flash floods taking the toll to 142 in the
eastern Indian state of Bihar as a swollen river Thursday threatened to
swamp the provincial capital of Patna, officials said.

In nearby West Bengal state, floods affected
almost 100,000 people across 119 villages of the Malda district where the
swirling Ganges river continued to rise Thursday following non-stop monsoon
rains.

In Bihar, police said one of the six
who drowned has been identified as Fazle Karim, secretary of Chapra district's
women's cricket …

BHUBANESWAR, India, Aug 31 (AFP) -
The death toll from flooding in the east Indian state of Orissa Sunday
rose to 10 as the situation worsened and more areas were inundated by swollen
rivers, officials said.

Officials said over 50,000 people have
been evacuated since flooding began three days ago, triggered by unusually
heavy rains.

Close to three million people have been
affected all over the state, they said.

Of the state's 30 districts, 15 have
been affected with the coastal districts of Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur,
Jajpur and Cuttack the most badly …

Food distribution activity is running at
full swing in flood-hit Dhemaji district of Assam, north-east India. So
far, World Vision has distributed food aid to 11,473 adults
and 2,239 infants of 39 villages.

Rain in the upper catchment areas of Nepal has resulted in the rise of the water levels of Bagmati, Kosi and Gandak and has so far affected 17 districts of Bihar. The first wave of floods took place in the last week of June and has displaced thousands of people. As per information received from IMD, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas of all rivers in Bihar and in the upper catchment areas of Son River till evening 13.08.03.